Q & A with coach Callahan, the latest on the MAAC, hoops news
Went over to MU today..watched some football practice and some hoops and asked questions of coach Callahan that had been asked on this blog. His answers are in quotes:
On a possible future football game with Princeton."Nothing has been talked about. I'd love to (play Princeton). I think it would be terrific, I think it would be a great non-conference game for both of us.'' On whether Monmouth has inquired of playing Princeton. ""We've inquired in the past but haven't recently. But we'd love to get something going.''
My take - Princeton wants no part of Monmouth. They could lose and it would be embarrassing. It took years for MU to get Princeton on its basketball schedule so it may happen some day.
Any higher level (NFL) interest in any current Hawks. "You'd have to ask people at the higher level.'
My take - At this time last year there had been all sort of interest in Miles Austin. I know of no NFL scouts who have asked to watch a Monmouth practice or a game. If they have no one has told me and I'm sure Callahan would. It would be another feather in MU's football cap.
Problem of the MU defense which, though playing well, has struggled in the sack area. ""We're not doing a good enough job getting of the blocks and getting to the quarterback. That's one of the things in the last couple of weeks we've been a little bit concerned about and we're working on it. It's something we have to improve upon.
My take - Yes. MU has to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks whether it's from the front three or four or via blitzing. However, as MU defensive tackle Dan Sizelove pointed out when I talked with him about it, MU has been facing mobile quarterbacks for the most part.
MU's schedule for next year: Non-conference opponents - Stonybrook (which will be an independent), Lafayette, Delaware, and St. Peter's. Callahan said at least Delaware, Lafayette, and St. Peter's will be on the road. Bottom line: MU will spend a lot of money on gas in 2007.
On possible renovation or expansion of Kessler Field: "There are some preliminary plans and drawings but I haven't heard anything in a while.''
My take - Nothing significant will be done with Kessler Field until the MAAC is built. That seems to be the key to any and all upgrade of facilities including looking to perhaps join another conference or league..
Which brings us to the MAAC. There is a WLB board of adjustment meeting tonight but have been told by our newsroom MU Thursday night will request a delay in the Board of Adjustment vote until the next meeting (Oct. 26) because it couldn't get its "Traffic expert" to testify until then. As you recall..at the last meeting..one resident..ONE - made a big fuss over possible traffic issues with the new arena even though MU had already completed and, I believe, submitted a study of same to the WLB panel. So now they'll do it again and this one resident will delay the vote for at least another month.
On MU hoops..nothing much to report from Wednesday's pick up action. Freshman Youngblood continus to impress as a point and or shooting guard as does freshman shooter Yaniv Simpson with his 3-point accuracy. Am not going to mention everyone though on a break Youngblood delivered a pass with sparks on it to Dejan Delic for a layup. ""Deki" also shot well.
Mike Shipman (foot), Rickie "The Rookie" Crews (minor soreness) and John Bunch (knee )did not play. All are expected to at the least be ready for Oct 14 practice per MU trainer.
Coach Calloway gave me next year's non-conference home schedule. MU will host Princeton and Penn, also Texas A & M Corpus Christie, and Rider. MU will visit Seton Hall, Hartford, and St. Peter's..some other games (probably on the road) are yet to be scheduled. Also..MU will return to the Paradise Jam Tournament, field yet to be announced.
On a possible future football game with Princeton."Nothing has been talked about. I'd love to (play Princeton). I think it would be terrific, I think it would be a great non-conference game for both of us.'' On whether Monmouth has inquired of playing Princeton. ""We've inquired in the past but haven't recently. But we'd love to get something going.''
My take - Princeton wants no part of Monmouth. They could lose and it would be embarrassing. It took years for MU to get Princeton on its basketball schedule so it may happen some day.
Any higher level (NFL) interest in any current Hawks. "You'd have to ask people at the higher level.'
My take - At this time last year there had been all sort of interest in Miles Austin. I know of no NFL scouts who have asked to watch a Monmouth practice or a game. If they have no one has told me and I'm sure Callahan would. It would be another feather in MU's football cap.
Problem of the MU defense which, though playing well, has struggled in the sack area. ""We're not doing a good enough job getting of the blocks and getting to the quarterback. That's one of the things in the last couple of weeks we've been a little bit concerned about and we're working on it. It's something we have to improve upon.
My take - Yes. MU has to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks whether it's from the front three or four or via blitzing. However, as MU defensive tackle Dan Sizelove pointed out when I talked with him about it, MU has been facing mobile quarterbacks for the most part.
MU's schedule for next year: Non-conference opponents - Stonybrook (which will be an independent), Lafayette, Delaware, and St. Peter's. Callahan said at least Delaware, Lafayette, and St. Peter's will be on the road. Bottom line: MU will spend a lot of money on gas in 2007.
On possible renovation or expansion of Kessler Field: "There are some preliminary plans and drawings but I haven't heard anything in a while.''
My take - Nothing significant will be done with Kessler Field until the MAAC is built. That seems to be the key to any and all upgrade of facilities including looking to perhaps join another conference or league..
Which brings us to the MAAC. There is a WLB board of adjustment meeting tonight but have been told by our newsroom MU Thursday night will request a delay in the Board of Adjustment vote until the next meeting (Oct. 26) because it couldn't get its "Traffic expert" to testify until then. As you recall..at the last meeting..one resident..ONE - made a big fuss over possible traffic issues with the new arena even though MU had already completed and, I believe, submitted a study of same to the WLB panel. So now they'll do it again and this one resident will delay the vote for at least another month.
On MU hoops..nothing much to report from Wednesday's pick up action. Freshman Youngblood continus to impress as a point and or shooting guard as does freshman shooter Yaniv Simpson with his 3-point accuracy. Am not going to mention everyone though on a break Youngblood delivered a pass with sparks on it to Dejan Delic for a layup. ""Deki" also shot well.
Mike Shipman (foot), Rickie "The Rookie" Crews (minor soreness) and John Bunch (knee )did not play. All are expected to at the least be ready for Oct 14 practice per MU trainer.
Coach Calloway gave me next year's non-conference home schedule. MU will host Princeton and Penn, also Texas A & M Corpus Christie, and Rider. MU will visit Seton Hall, Hartford, and St. Peter's..some other games (probably on the road) are yet to be scheduled. Also..MU will return to the Paradise Jam Tournament, field yet to be announced.
posted by Tony Graham at 1:21 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the update Tony! We don't even need to play Princeton if we have Delaware on the schedule. With the graduating seniors, it will probably be a rough game.
Why doesn't w. long branch concede that they are now a "college town"??? I'm guessing they still have no plans for better parking arrangements...
Thanks for the blog Tony
Far as I know MU, at least, has all its parking plans, traffic surveys, etc. worked out and this was approved by the zoning board. But, this one guy, brought in "his own" traffic survey and now MU has to deal with that. Carol Gorga Williams (Press reporter) will be attending tonight and she will get back to me if anything transpires affecting MU. Though, as stated earlier, MU is supposed to request a delay in the vote until it can bring back its own traffic guy next month. And the saga continues.
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